I create my jewelry designs drawing inspiration from each carefully chosen fine gemstone, while combining curvalinear silver to create a distinct melodic energy in each piece as I inject design in every element of the jewelry creating new functionality.

The stones are chosen one-by-one at gem shows where I pour over piles of gems to find the individual pieces which spark a tingle of excitment in me. Are they speaking to me? I do have a feeling for them and know that the tingle of excitment will translate into a piece of jewelry with extraordinary dynamics.

I do not use a sketchbook to document a design. I prepare "sticks" of silver in random lengths and thicknesses as well as solid balls of silver. With these on hand I contemplate a particular stick or two alongside the stone. Shorter sticks will have a swoosh effect. Longer sticks will loop and wind around and back. Balls have a staccato effect. Am I limited by how many combinations I can make with these sticks and balls? I certainly do not think so. The curves I shape the sticks into have character. The character of the curves evolves. The interplay between sticks and stones varies depending on the point at which they are joined and then again by a staccato ball placed as a balancing point.

Ah, balance. Symmetry. I actually don't think in terms of symmetry, because that refers to what the piece is NOT. It is NOT symmetrical. I think in terms of balance. Quite literally in terms of my pendants. If I do not position some of the sticks well then it will appear to be cock-eyed when worn. I accomplish this in laying out the initial design and then again when soldering the parts together and often have to redo a solder joint if I pick it up with a tweezers to find that it is not in balance. And when I am finished I feel the tingle of excitment at accomplishing a stunning piece of jewelry and I look forward to the final chapter -- finding the owner of the piece.

Savané Silver was founded in 1996, when Rachel Savané discovered the juried art fair scene. In January of 1997 Rachel participated in her first-ever craft fair, Kentucky Crafted: The Market, in Louisville, KY. This first experience of selling the pieces she made was encouragment enough to quit her job and jump in.

Rachel's degree from the University of Illinois, BFA in Crafts/Metals, 1988 served as an excellent foundation of skills and design necessary to begin the process of evolution in creativity. The time she has spent abroad offers her a global perspective on design: college year in Denmark(85-86) and Peace Corps in Guinea, West Africa(90-93) where she met her husband.

Rachel participated in all of the juried art fairs in Kentucky, averaging twelve per year until in 2003 Savané Silver was incorporated and she decided to open a gallery/studio in downtown Lexington, KY where she lives. With this new location she has built up a following of visitors to the city through advertising to tourists and more locals who weren't familiar with her work. Rachel's production increased significantly with the addition of her husband, Mamadou Savané, to the work force. Mamadou volulnteered to do the finishing/polishing work, taking over 40% of production time required for each piece of jewelry. The home studio has become his polishing studio where he deals with the challenges of ever-changing design.

She ceased participation in the local art fairs in 2004, focusing on the gallery/studio and looking to build a national/international reputation for her work through wholesale to galleries.